Last Modified: Monday, July 8, 2013 at 4:11 p.m.

A surf walks out into the Hurricane Isabel charged surf early on Topsail Beach Wednesday, Sept.17, 2003.

StarNews file photo

"Seashells and sea breezes await at Topsail Beach, one of the more family-friendly and uncrowded stretches of sand along the coast of North Carolina," the post reads. The list names Topsail Beach but refers to all of Topsail Island: "The 26-mile-long barrier island is home to three small towns, all with a laid-back vibe, and all four beaches tend to stay quiet, even in the heart of summer."

Emerald Isle, on Bogue Banks in Carteret County, also made the list. "Calm waters make it a perfect choice for safe swimming, and if you get bored with lazing in the sand, hop on a boat for some dolphin watching," the list says.

<p>TOPSAIL BEACH | Topsail Beach ranks among the best uncrowded beaches on the Atlantic Seaboard, according to a list posted Monday in USA Today's online travel section.</p><p>"Seashells and sea breezes await at Topsail Beach, one of the more family-friendly and uncrowded stretches of sand along the coast of North Carolina," the post reads. The list names Topsail Beach but refers to all of Topsail Island: "The 26-mile-long barrier island is home to three small towns, all with a laid-back vibe, and all four beaches tend to stay quiet, even in the heart of summer."</p><p>Emerald Isle, on Bogue Banks in Carteret County, also made the list. "Calm waters make it a perfect choice for safe swimming, and if you get bored with lazing in the sand, hop on a boat for some dolphin watching," the list says.</p><p>View the full list at http://usat.ly/16d97xi.</p><p>- Kate Elizabeth Queram</p>